STATED COUNCIL MEETING DECISIONS
1. SPECIAL ORDINANCE – AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF THE NYS ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES CORPORATION (EFC) RESILIENT WATERSHED GRANT (RWG) PROGRAM TOWARDS TROUBLESOME BROOK RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR $6,666,667 AND AMENDING THE CITY OF YONKERS GRANT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR. 2025/2026. (FISCAL IMPACT – 10% CITY MATCH.) (MINORITY LEADER BREEN.) THE CITY IS ACCEPTING A $6.67 MILLION GRANT FROM THE NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES CORPORATION (EFC) THROUGH ITS RESILIENT WATERSHEDS GRANT PROGRAM. THIS MONEY WILL BE USED TO IMPROVE TROUBLESOME BROOK TO HELP REDUCE FLOODING AND MAKE THE AREA MORE RESILIENT TO STORMS AND EXTREME WEATHER. HELD IN COMMITTEE.
2. RESOLUTION – DECLARING THE CITY COUNCIL’S INTENTION TO SEEK LEAD AGENCY STATUS FOR THE PURPOSES OF SEQRA REVIEW FOR THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TROUBLESOME BROOK. (NO FISCAL IMPACT.) (MINORITY LEADER BREEN.) THE CITY COUNCIL WISHES TO OVERSEE AND COORDINATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS IN IMPROVING THE RESILIENCY TO THE TROUBLESOME BROOK BY REPLACING CULVERTS AT SCARSDALE ROAD AND MANHATTAN AVENUE TO IMPROVE STORMWATER FLOWS, REDUCE BACKWATER CAUSING EROSION, AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. ADOPTED 6-0
3. RESOLUTION – APPROVING AN INTER-MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF YONKERS AND THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER FOR THE USE OF THE FIRING RANGE FACILITY FOR TRAINING PURPOSES. (NO FISCAL IMPACT.) (ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.) THIS AGREEMENT AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO SEND PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES TO THE COUNTY FIRING RANGE FOR TRAINING PURPOSES FOR A FLAT FEE. THIS INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENT WILL BE EFFECTIVE UPON ITS EXECUTION AND CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNTIL JULY 31, 2030. ADOPTED 6-0
4. RESOLUTION – APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF YONKERS BOARD OF EDUCATION/YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LOCAL 456, INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS. (NEGATIVE FISCAL IMPACT.) (ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.) THIS IS THE SUCCESSOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IN EFFECT BETWEEN THE CITY OF YONKERS BOARD OF EDUCATION/YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LOCAL 456, INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2022, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027. ADOPTED 6-0
5. RESOLUTION – REQUESTING NEW YORK STATE CREATE A “TRUE80” RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY STANDARD. (NO FISCAL IMPACT.) (ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.) PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO FACE PENSION REDUCTIONS WHEN RETIRING BEFORE FIXED STATUTORY AGE THRESHOLDS, REGARDLESS OF DECADES OF CREDITED PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES A “TRUE 80” RETIREMENT OPTION WHICH WOULD BE THE SUM OF A MEMBER’S AGE AND CREDITED SERVICE TO EQUAL EIGHTY (80). THIS WOULD PROMOTE WORKFORCE STABILITY, IMPROVE MORALE AND RETENTION, AND ASSIST PUBLIC EMPLOYERS IN EFFECTIVE SUCCESSION PLANNING. ADOPTED 6-0
6. RESOLUTION – REQUESTING NEW YORK STATE PASS LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE RECURRING AID TO OFFSET COSTS OF THE NEW YORK STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. (NO FISCAL IMPACT.) (ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.) A REQUEST FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE MUNICIPALITIES SUCH AS YONKERS CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WHILE MAINTAINING FISCAL STABILITY AND PROTECTING LOCAL TAXPAYERS FROM THE UNSUSTAINABLE COST BURDENS OF THE NEW YORK STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. ADOPTED 6-0
7. RESOLUTION – APPOINTING BISHOP DR. JAMES N. HASSELL AS A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD. (NO FISCAL IMPACT.) (ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.) THIS IS TO APPOINT BISHOP DR. JAMES N. HASSELL TO THE PLANNING BOARD FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2028. BISHOP DR. HASSELL IS A YONKERS RESIDENT AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF KINGDOM NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORP. AND IS THE PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE KINGDOM CHRISTIAN CULTURAL CENTER. ADOPTED 6-0
8. RESOLUTION- PROCLAIMING MARCH AS COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF YONKERS. COLORECTAL CANCER IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMONLY DIAGNOSED CANCERS AND REMAINS A LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER-RELATED DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SURVIVORS, HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO THE DISEASE, AND SUPPORT PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO PREVENTION AND TREATMENT EFFORTS. ADOPTED 6-0
9. RESOLUTION- PROCLAIMING MARCH 6TH AS EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY IN THE CITY OF YONKERS. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS WORK DILIGENTLY EACH DAY TO ENSURE SAFETY, CLEANLINESS, EFFICIENCY, AND VITALITY OF OUR CITY. THE CITY COUNCIL PAUSES TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS, RESILIENCE, AND DEDICATION OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO CONTINUE TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND CARE.ADOPTED 6-0
10. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF YONKERS DECLARING THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026 “WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH.” AND DECLARING MARCH 8, 2026, AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY. THIS MONTH IS DESIGNED TO RECOGNIZE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY WOMEN TO OUR SOCIETY, WHICH AT TIMES ARE OVERLOOKED AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AS THEY SHOULD BE. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY IS A FOCAL POINT IN THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT. IT BRINGS ATTENTION TO ISSUES SUCH AS GENDER EQUALITY, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN. ADOPTED 6-0
11.RESOLUTION DECLARING THE WEEK OF MARCH 8TH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK IN THE CITY OF YONKERS. THE CITY OF YONKERS RECOGNIZES THE STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND DETERMINATION OF RESIDENTS LIVING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND HONORS CAREGIVERS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, AND ADVOCATES WHO SUPPORT THEM. RAISING AWARENESS AND PROMOTING EDUCATION ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ENCOURAGES UNDERSTANDING, REDUCES STIGMA, AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CITY. ADOPTED 6-0
12. RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING, REMEMBERING, REVELING IN, AND RHYTHMICALLY RECOUNTING THE REMARKABLE, RIDICULOUSLY RHYMING, READ-ALOUD RENOWNED LITERARY LEGACY OF DR. SEUSS ON HIS SPECTACULAR SEUSSIAN CELEBRATION DAY. MARCH 2, 2026, AS DR. SEUSS DAY IN THE CITY OF YONKERS, CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LITERARY IMAGINATION OF DR. SEUSS. ADOPTED 6-0
13. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF YONKERS DECLARING THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026 “SOCIAL WORKERS MONTH”. THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION HAS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF PUSHING FOR CHANGES THAT HAVE MADE OUR SOCIETY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, INCLUDING A MINIMUM WAGE, IMPROVED WORKPLACE SAFETY, AND SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS THAT HELP IMPROVE POVERTY AND HUNGER. WE TAKE THIS MONTH TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND ALL THAT THEY DO FOR OUR CITY. ADOPTED 6-0
14. RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING MARCH 19TH AS CERTIFIED NURSES DAY IN THE CITY OF YONKERS. THE CITY OF YONKERS IS HOME TO DEDICATED NURSING PROFESSIONALS SERVING VARIOUS HEALTHCARE FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE, HIGH-QUALITY CARE TO OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY. THIS IS A DAY TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION, HONOR PROFESSIONALISM, AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE OF CERTIFIED NURSES ACROSS THE NATION. ADOPTED 6-0
15. COMMISSIONER OF DEEDS. THE RENEWAL OF TWO APPOINTEES FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS TO EXPIRE MARCH 31, 2028.
16. RESOLUTION – REQUESTING NEW YORK STATE PASS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF YONKERS TO IMPOSE A HIGHER TAX RATE ON PROPERTIES THAT ARE VACANT OR ABANDONED. (NO FISCAL IMPACT.) (ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.) A REQUEST TO THE NYS LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO IMPOSE A PROPERTY TAX RATE OF UP TO THREE (3) TIMES THE STANDARD RATE ON LEGALLY DEFINED VACANT OR ABANDONED PROPERTY. THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS 167 PROPERTIES REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND BUILDING AS VACANT OR ABANDONED, REPRESENTING A MEASURABLE AND ONGOING BURDEN ON CITY SERVICES AND NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY. ADOPTED 6-0
In Attendance:
City Council President Lakisha Collins Bellamy, Council President
Majority Leader – John Rubbo, District 4
Majority Whip – Deana Norman, District 1
Minority Leader – Mike Breen, District 5
Councilmember Corazon Pineda-Isaac, District 2
Councilmember Tim Hodges, District 6
